Navy
Newest fleet replenishment oiler, USNS Earl Warren, delivered to Military Sealift Command
Stars and Stripes
May 8, 2024
USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207) during a testing event. The Navy accepted delivery on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in San Diego following successful completion of Integrated Sea Trials. (Naval Sea Systems Command)
The newest fleet replenishment oiler, the USNS Earl Warren, was delivered Tuesday to Military Sealift Command during a ceremony in San Diego.
Delivery follows the successful completion of Integrated Sea Trials to test the readiness and capability of the ship and to validate requirements. The 746-foot Warren is the third ship in the 20-ship John Lewis-class.
The ship honors Earl Warren, an American attorney, politician and jurist who served as the 14th Chief Justice of the United States from 1953 to 1969. Warren wrote the majority opinions in landmark civil rights cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, Reynolds v. Sims, Miranda v. Arizona and Loving v. Virginia. Warren also led the Warren Commission, a presidential commission that investigated the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Warren is considered to be one of the country’s most influential Supreme Court justices and political leaders.
The class and its lead ship are named for the late civil rights leader and former U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia. The oilers, which can carry up to 162,000 barrels of oil and have sizable dry cargo capacity, support the Navy’s carrier strike groups.
This upgraded oiler is built with double hulls to protect against oil spills and has strengthened cargo and ballast tanks. It will be equipped with a basic self-defense capability, including crew-served weapons and Nixie torpedo decoys. It also has the capabilities for close-in weapons systems such as SeaRAMs, and an Anti-Torpedo Defense System. The Lewis class of oilers will replace the current Kaiser class fleet replenishment oilers.
From left: Cmdr. Mark Ewachiw, supervisor of shipbuilding, Bath-San Diego Detachment, officer in charge; Lt. Elliot Collins, project officer; Lt. Allison Adamos, project officer; and Lt. Cmdr. René Martin, T-AO program manager representative attend the USNS Earl Warren delivery ceremony on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in San Diego. (Naval Sea Systems Command)